Caravaggio: The Art of Drama in Baroque Rome

"Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, better known simply as Caravaggio, revolutionized the art world with his dramatic realism and powerful use of chiaroscuro. Born in Milan in 1571, Caravaggio arrived in Rome in the early 1590s, at a time when the city was undergoing a cultural and religious transformation due to the Counter-Reformation. His time in Rome would become the most defining period of his career, where he produced some of his most famous works, blending intense naturalism with a raw, emotional depth that had never been seen before.

Caravaggio's art was not just revolutionary in terms of style; it also challenged conventional religious imagery, portraying biblical figures with an unprecedented realism. His depictions of saints and sinners alike in the vibrant streets of Rome made him both famous and infamous. Over the next few minutes, we will explore Caravaggio’s transformative influence on Roman art, his most iconic works created during…